Classes, work, number coding suspended due to monsoon

MANILA, Philippines —  Intense rainfall over Metro Manila since Tuesday night flooded major roads, displaced residents in low-lying communities and forced the government to suspend classes, work and the number coding scheme.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the orange rainfall warning, indicating “flooding is threatening,” was raised in Metro Manila as of 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

It was downgraded to yellow rainfall warning or risk of flooding in low-lying areas at 11 p.m. The warning remained until 8 a.m. yesterday, and was raised again at 2 p.m.

Past 7 a.m. yesterday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin declared the suspension of classes in all levels as well as work in government offices in Metro Manila.

The suspension came following the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In a letter addressed to Bersamin, NDRRMC executive director and Office of the Civil Defense administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said the southwest monsoon was expected to bring occasional rains with possible flash floods in Metro Manila.

“The suspension will prevent any untoward incidents and will ensure the safety of the general public,” Nepomuceno said.

The suspension, however, did not cover frontline agencies engaged in emergency services.

The Supreme Court suspended work yesterday, as did the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and regional trial courts and metropolitan trial courts in Muntinlupa, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Quezon City.

Major roads in Manila – particularly Adriatico, Padre Faura, P. Ocampo, Taft Avenue, Quirino Avenue and España Boulevard – had gutter-deep floods, according to the Manila Public Information Office.

Also inundated with gutter-deep floods were portions of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and Andrews Avenue in Pasay City.

In addition, the intersection of Araneta Avenue and Maria Clara Street in Quezon City saw 36 inches of floodwaters, making it impassable to motorists.

In Malabon, the flooded areas included Barangays Acacia, Catmon, Dampalit, Hulong Duhat, Ibaba, Longos, Maysilo and Panghulo.

Navotas also had flooded areas measuring one to three inches deep in Barangays Sipac, San Jose, Daanghari, Tanza and Tanza 2.

The intermittent rains displaced a total of 33 families or 131 individuals, who stayed at the Bartolome Covered Court in Barangay Veinte Reales and at the Valenzuela National High School in Barangay Marulas.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) suspended the implementation of the expanded number coding scheme as well as the scheduled meeting of the Metro Manila Council, which would have supposedly tackled measures to prevent the spread of the African swine fever among hogs and pork products and mpox among residents of Metro Manila.

When daylight broke, the flooding in some areas in Metro Manila subsided, according to reports from the MMDA and the Manila city government.

The Manila International Airport Authority announced the cancellation of 10 domestic flights by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines to Naga and Busuanga due to unfavorable weather conditions.

According to PAGASA, rains are expected to continue until today and then ease over the weekend.

The monsoon is currently affecting most parts of the country, especially Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

Today, monsoon rains are forecast over Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.

The southwest monsoon will also bring occasional rains over Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan.

Scattered rains are expected over the Visayas, Bicol region, the rest of Central Luzon, the rest of Calabarzon and Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public anew to take necessary measures against leptospirosis as the heavy rains caused floods in various parts of the country. – Helen Flores, Rudy Santos, Emmanuel Tupas, Romina Cabrera, Mayen Jaymalin, Daphne Galvez